Novelty amusement air ride apparatus



Dec. 3, 1946. J. PsAlLA NOVELTY AMUSEMENT AIR-RIDE APPARATUS u Filedsept. V14, 1943 2 sheets-sheet v1 v INVENTOR 5757272 Rsaz'Za,

Dec. 3, 1946. J, PSAILA v 2,412,060

v NOVELTY AMUSIEMENT AIR'RIDE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 5 ATT/aver Patented Dec. 3, 1946 NOVELTY AMUSEMENT ArltAPPARATUS j RIDE.

John Psaila, New York, N. y Application september 14, 1'943,`s'er'ia'1Nb'. 502267 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in anovelty amusement air-ride apparatus. f: More specically, the inventionproposes the construction of a novelty amusement air-ride apparatus foruse at amusement parks, carnivals and thelike which provides pivotallymounted seats in which passengers may seat themselves in a manner toreceive a thrill ride as the device circumnavigates an annular trackhaving vertical wave-like portions.

Still further, it is proposed to mount the seats upon a pivotallymounted depending support arm in a manner to cause the arm and seats toswing radially of the annular track as they move about the track.

Another object of the'invention :proposes the provision of a bumperagainst which the arms are adapted to strike when they swing inwards, inarmanner to arrest this inward motion and prevent the seats fromstriking their supporting structure.

A further object of the invention proposes mounting the armeccentrically upon a rotativelyv supported disc with provision of meansfor periodically oscillating the disc in a manner to irnpart a slighttwisting motion to the seats as they swing radially and move about thetrack.

f It is a further object of this invention to construct a noveltyamusement air-ride apparatus which is simple and durable and which maybe manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

l'For' further comprehension of this invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the novelty amusement air-rideapparatus constructed according to this invention but with the frontframe broken away,

2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed View looking in the direction of the line3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the center portion of Fig. 3. Y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line S-B ofFig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I-T of Fig. 6.

6 Claims. (Cl. 272-45) 2 Fig. 8rv is an enlarged view looking in thedirec-I tion of the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 9 is an'enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 10 is averticalfsectional view on the line Ill-I0 of Fig.' 9. I Thenovelty amusement air-ride apparatus, according t0 this invention,includes a'stationaryy verticalpost I0. An annular track II is arrangedconcentric with the post I0 and is provided with verticalwave-likeportions. The track II is supported in a slightly elevated positionbymeans of supporting brackets I2.

A hub I3 is rotatively` supported upon the vertical post I0. The hub I3is in the form of a ring which rests upon a projecting flange I4 formedupon an intermediate portion of the lpost IIJ. The top of the hub I3 isengaged by a ring, I5 which slidably engages thepost III. A spring I6 isconcentric'ally engaged upon the post I0 and operates between the topface of the ring I5 and a collar I1 xedly mounted upon the topportion ofthe post I0 The,` spring I6 acts to urge thev hub I3 into positionagainst the flange I L Vertical frames I8 extendradially from the hubI3. n Eacho'f the frames I8 is alike in construction and each includes ahorizontal member I9 of structural steel extended radially of the hubI3. The inner end of each horizontal member I3 is pivotally supportedupon a lug 2,0 which extends fromlthehub, I3by means of a pin 2 Theouterl end of eachhorizontal member I9 has a bracket 22 rotatlvelysupporting a roller 23 which is adapted to roll upon the ytrack I I.Each horizontal member I9 carries a vertical member 24 reenforced byanangular brace 25. Each'vertical memberj24 and the brace 25 are formed ofthe same material as the horizontal member I9. A means is provided fordriving the frames I8 along the track as the hub I3 turnson the post I0.This means comprises a speed reduction unit and motor 25 mounted uponthe side of one of the framesv I8 at a point above the roller 23. l Thereduction unit and motor 26 has an extendedrotative shaft carrying asprocket wheel 21. A sprocket chain 2% engages the sprocket wheel21 anda sprocket wheelze mounted upon a pin 3l) upon whichtheroller 23 ismounted. Both the roller A23` and ,the sprocketwheel 29 are fixedlvmounted uponjthe pin 3B to turn the roller 23 when the'sprocket wheel 29is turned. v

A horizontal disc 3| is horizontally turnably mounted in a supportingtrack 32 mounted upon the .top -end of ,each of the vertical members 24of each of the frames I8. A support-arm-.33 pivotally dependseccentrically from each of the discs 3|. A pin 34 pivotally attaches thearm 33 to a depending lug 35 so that the arm will be capable of pivotingonly radially of the frame I8 when the disc 3| is in its normal.position shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

A bumper 36 is mounted on each of the discs 3| behind the arm 33 toarrest inward pivoting of the arm and prevent itfrom strikingth'evertical member 24 of its respective frame I8. Each of the bumpers 36 isalike in construction and each comprises a depending bracket 3'I uponthe bottom of which a hollow container-38 is mounted. A bumper member 39slidably extends` from the container 38 and is adapted to be hit by theswinging arm 33. Springs 40 are mounted within the container 38 andurgethebumper member 39 into an extended position.

Seats 44 are indirectly mounted on horizontal pivotal axis on the bottomportion of each of the support arms 33.*The bottom-of each support arm33 carries a hollow casing 40 from ywhich the ends of a shaft -4'Iextend. Theends ofthe shaft 4| continue into'U-shaped support brackets42. Eachy bracket 42 supportsfaxhollow open-'top container 43 withinwhich a seat 44is mounted. Aperson is adapted to'enter the container 43and seatihimself upon the seat 44. Straps may-be provided for strappingthe person .in lposition upon the seat-44 to prevent Vhim `iromfallingout during the ride, but these strapsare not shown on thedrawing.l

Means are provided for oscillating the con.. tainers 43 about'thehorizontal axes of the shafts 4I 'for moving the seats 44 into certainpositions as 'the'arms 33 swing radially outwards. This means isalike-foreach ofthe arms 33, and each comprises la link 45 connected Ato-anintermediate portion of theshaft 4I within the hollow casing 40. TheVfree endof the link`45 is connected to one-end of a 'rod .46 bymeans-of a pin 47.V The other-end'ofrthe-rod 46 extends upwardsxhroughan enlargedcpening-48 v.formed in the'casing 40 and is pivotallyconnected tothe -depending lug 35 at-a point above the pivot pin 34, byvmeans of -a pinv49. With this construction as the arm 33-movesjradiallyoutwardsthe rod` 46 will exert a pressure-on the link v45'causing theseats to be Aoscillated slightly to maintain substantially .an-uprightposition. K A means vis provided forsupplying themotor andspeedreduction unit26 with theelectric current for-their.operation. ,Aring.50 of insulation materialds mounted .uponthepost I --below the hub.I.3. 4The Vring supports a .spacedpair of metallic -collector .rings .5I -to which .the ends of f a pair of .electric leads 52 areconnected.The leads 52- are'connected witha switch controlled source of electricpower, not shown-on the drawing. A second ring :53 .of insulationmaterial surrounds therst ring 50. vThe second ring53 .i-s .-much largerthan the rstand is supported torotate concentrically about .the .ring50. .Thisrotative support is.=ac'complished bya bearingil arrangedbetween-the bottom .ofthe ring 5.3 and .ashelfr mounted on-the. .postI'Ilbelow the ring53.

.Leaf springs l'.56 ,have oneof theirends bolted totheinneriaceof ,thering .53.. The freaend of each of the leaf springs-56 engage ,one of thecollector rings I. The outer ends of the bolts 51 which hold lthe vleafsprings 56 are connected with ywires l58 which are extended along theframes .I8 to .themotor-andgear,reduction unit 26. f ,l pin-59extendsfrom the hub [.3 and llably `of the track II.

engages into a complementary opening 60 formed in the ring 53 forcausing the ring 53 to turn with the hub I3.

Means is provided for periodically turning the discs 3| during therotations of the hub I3. This means comprises a projection 6I extendedfrom each of the discs 3| through a slot 62 formed in the side of eachdiscs supporting track 32. The free en'd `ofthe projection v6| isadaptedto strike an abutment 63 mounted on an arm Slt-extended from the top endof the post I0. The arms 64 do not rotate, but with the abutments 63extended into the pathtraversed by the free ends of the projections 6|,cont-act between the projections 6I and abutments 63, as shown in Fig.6, will lcause the discs 3| to be turned slightly until the projections6I by-pass the abutments 63.

A pin 65 is mounted upon the disc 3| and is extendedthrough a slot 66formed in the side of the supporting track 32 of the disc 3|. A secondpin 67 is mounted upon the track-32 at a point spaced :from the pin 65.Acontraction spring'68 is mounted between the pins 65 and 61 for lurgingthe disc 3| back to its-normal starting .position when the projectionhasfby-passed the abutment 63. k

The operation of the'device is as follows:

With the amusement device in the inoperative position shown in Fig. '1,persons-desiring a ride seat themselves upon the seats y44 and power issupplied to the motor and speed reduction unit 26 through theelectricleads 52. This will drive the `frames I8 aboutfthe track IIcausing the outer endsy of the frames 'I8 to-go up and down as therollers pass over the Wave-likeformati'ons This will cause the seats toswing to and fro'upon the 'ends of the arms 33'as they are oscillated bythe links 45 while at the same time being turned eccentrically of thediscs 3| as the projections 6I by-pass the abutments 63.

y This device may be used as a'iixed or portable amusement device atamusement places or built in miniature size with a small electric orspring motor andused as a toy.

While I have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiments of myinvention, lit is to-bc understood that I do not limit myself tothepre--v oise constructions hereinfdisclosed and the lright is'reserved toall changes and modificationscoming within the scope of ythe inventionas defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure'by'United State Letters 'Patent is:

l. A Vnovelty amusement 'air-ride apparatus having a stationary verticalpost and an annular track arranged concentric with said post and havingvertical wave-likeportions and ahub'rotatively mounted on said post withVvertical frames extending radially from said hub and being Ypivotallyconnectedat their bottom portions with 'said hub and providedwith'rollers riding said annular track and `means for` drawing-saidframes along said track, a horizontal disc-hori-y zontally turnablymounted-on the .top-of -each frame, a "support arm .pi-votaly depending"BC- centrcaly from each of .said discs, Va -bumper mountedk on each ofsaid discs behind said Ysupport arms, seats pivotally mounted'on the.bottom 'portions of said support arms, means for oscillating said seatsabout th'eir-pivotalisupports, and means for periodically `oscillatingsaid vdiscs duringl rotations of said, hub. v

v2. .A novelty amusement aireride apparatus rhaving a stationaryvertical post .andanannuiar track arranged concentric with said post andhaving vertical wave-like portions and a hub rotatively mounted on saidpost with vertical frames extending radially from said hub and beingpivotally connected at their bottom portions with said hub and providedwith rollers riding said annular track and means for drawing said framesalong said track, a horizontal disc horizontally turnably mounted on thetop of each frame, a support arm pivotally depending eccentrically fromeach of said discs, a bumper mounted on each of said discs behind saidsupport arms, seats pivotally mounted on the bottom portions of saidsupport arms, means for oscillating said seats about their pivotalsupports, and means for periodically oscillating said discs duringrotations of said hub, said discs being rotatively supported in annulartracks mounted upon the top of said frames.

3. A novelty amusement air-rideV apparatus having a stationary verticalpost and an annular track arranged concentric with said post and havingvertical wave-like portions and a hub rotatively mounted on said postwith vertical frames extending radially from said hub and beingpivotally connected at their bottom portions with said hub and providedwith rollers riding said annular track and means for drawing said framesalong said track, a horizontal disc horizontally turnably mounted on thetop of each frame, a support arm pivotally depending eccentrically fromeach of said discs, a bumper mounted on each of said discs behind saidsupport arms, seats pivotally mounted on the bottom portions of saidsupport arms, means for oscillating said seats about their pivotalsupports, and means for periodically oscillating said discs duringrotations of said hub, said bumpers comprising brackets depending fromsaid discs, hollow containers mounted on the bottom ends of saidbrackets, bumper members extending from said hollow containers andsprings within said containers urging said bumper members into extendedpositions. i

4. A novelty amusement air-ride apparatus having a stationary verticalpost and an annular track arranged Aconcentric with said post and havingvertical wave-like portions and a hub rotatively mounted on said postwith vertical frames extending radially from said hub and beingpivotally connected at their bottom portions with said hub and providedWith rollers riding said annular track and means for drawing said framesalong said track, a horizontal disc horizontally turnably mounted on thetop of each frame, a support arm pivotally depending eccentrically fromeach of said discs, a bumper mounted on each of said discs behind saidsupport arms, seats pivotally mounted on the bottom portions of saidsupport arms, means for oscillating said seats about their pivotalsupports,

and means for periodically oscillating said discs during rotations ofsaid hub, each of said arms having a casing at its bottom end, ahorizontal shaft extending rotatively through said casing and said seatsbeing mounted in open top containers mounted upon the ends of saidshafts and comprising the pivotal mounting of said seats.

5. A novelty amusement air-ride apparatus having a stationary verticalpost and an annular track arranged concentric with said post and havingvertical wave-like portions and a hub rotatively mounted on said postwith vertical frames extending radially from said hub and beingpivotally connected at their bottom portions with said hub'and providedwith rollers riding said annular track and means for drawing said framesalong said track, a horizontal disc horizontally turnably mounted on thetop of each frame, a support arm pivotally depending eccentrically fromeach of said discs, a bumper mounted on each of said discs behind saidsupport arms, seats pivotally mounted on the bottom portions of saidsupport arms, means for oscillating said seats about their pivotalsupports, and means for periodically oscillating said discs duringrotations of said hub, each of said arms having a casing at its bottomend, a horizontalshaft extending rotatively through said each casing andsaid seats being mounted in open top containers mounted upon the ends ofsaid shafts and comprising the pivotal mounting of said seats, saidmeans for oscillating said seats comprising rods connected t0 radiallinks extending from said shafts and to points above the pivots of saidarms. 6. A novelty amusement air-ride apparatus .having a stationaryvertical post and an annular track arranged concentric with said postand having vertical wave-like portions and a hub rotatively mounted onsaid post with vertical frames extending radially from said hub andbeing pivotally connected at their bottom portions With said hub andprovided with rollers riding said annular track and means for drawingsaid frames along said track, a horizontal disc horizontally turnablymounted on the top of each frame, a support arm pivotally dependingeccentrically from each of said discs, a bumper mounted on each of saiddiscs behind said support arms, seats pivotally mounted on the bottomportions of said support arms, means for oscillating said seats abouttheir pivotal supports, and means for periodically oscillating saiddiscs during rotations of said hub, said latter means comprisingprojections extending from said discs, abutments mounted on said postand extending into the path traversed by said projections to cause saiddiscs to turn slightly until said projections bypass said abutments andresilient means urging said discs back to their former positions.

JOHN PSAILA.

